The need for substance abuse after-care: Longitudinal analysis of Oxford House

Abstract

Aims There is a need to explore the processes of social support and self-efficacy change over time among individuals in recovery homes, and to assess the extent to which residents remain abstinent, obtain and maintain employment, refrain from criminal activity, and utilize health care systems both while within the and after leaving such settings. Design Residents were recruited and interviewed at an initial baseline phase and then re-interviewed at three subsequent 4-month intervals. Setting Oxford Houses are recovery home residences for individuals with substance abuse and dependence problems who seek a supportive, democratic, mutual-help setting. Participants A national US sample of Oxford House residents ( n = 897: 604 men, 293 women). Measurements Information was gathered on abstinence, social support, self-efficacy, employment, criminal history, and medical care utilization. Findings Change in cumulative abstinence was predicted by support for alcohol use, abstinence self-efficacy, and length of residency in OH (i.e., less than versus ≥ 6 months), even after controlling for initial time spent in OH. Conclusions Results suggest that receiving abstinence support, guidance, and information from recovery home members committed to the goal of long-term sobriety may enhance residents' abstinence self-efficacy and enable persons recovering from alcohol and other drug addiction to reduce the probability of a relapse.